Saban is 218-62-1 with six national titles — five at Alabama and one at LSU — and is the first coach to win a title at separate schools. Thanks in part to him, all three programs find themselves among the elite college football teams.

Of course, Saban had help with some talented players along the way. Wherever he has gone, he has coached award-winners, All-Americans and record-setters. Which raises the question: Who are the best players he's coached?

QB AJ McCarron, Alabama (2009-13)

Nick Saban's most successful quarterback, McCarron led Alabama to two of its three BCS championships in 2011 and '12. Tabbed by many as a game manager, he set school records with 77 career passing touchdowns and 9,019 passing yards while going 36-4 as a starter. McCarron was twice named All-SEC and finished second in the Heisman balloting in 2013, behind Jameis Winston.

RB Mark Ingram Jr., Alabama (2008-10)

Many would argue Ingram's compatriot Trent Richardson is more deserving, but it was Ingram who became Alabama and Saban’s first Heisman winner. In 2009, he rushed for 1,658 yards and 17 touchdowns; for his career, he turned in 3,261 rushing yards, a school-record 42 rushing touchdowns and a 5.7 yard-per-carry average. Ingram was a unanimous All-American and SEC Offensive Player of the Year in 2009. He was taken No. 27 overall in the 2011 NFL Draft.

RB Derrick Henry, Alabama (2013-15)

Henry earned his spot on this list with a monster 2015 season in which he rushed 395 times for 2,219 yards and 28 touchdowns, all SEC single-season records. That helped Henry tie Mark Ingram's career mark of 42 rushing touchdowns and break the Alabama record with 3,591 rushing yards. For his efforts, Henry won Alabama's second Heisman Trophy, along with unanimous All-American honors and the Doak Walker, Walter Camp and Maxwell awards.

WR Josh Reed, LSU (1998-2001)

Reed became Saban’s first Biletnikoff winner in 2001 after turning in a monstrous season, catching a school-record 94 passes for 10 touchdowns and a still-standing, SEC-record 1,740 receiving yards. The previous season, he caught 65 passes for 1,127 yards. He left LSU with consensus All-American honors, 3,001 career yards and 167 catches.

WR Amari Cooper, Alabama (2012-14)

Cooper saved his best season for last, grabbing 124 receptions (an SEC record) for 1,727 yards and 16 touchdowns (both school records) in 2014. In so doing, he became Alabama's all-time leader in receptions (228) and receiving yards (3,463). He also tied the league record with 31 receiving touchdowns, all after a three-year career. He won the Biletnikoff Award and unanimous All-American honors in 2014 before getting selected as the No. 4 pick in the 2015 NFL Draft.

WR Plaxico Burress, Michigan State (1998-99)

Burress made a huge impact at Michigan State in two seasons under Saban. As a junior, Burress caught a then-conference-record 65 passes for 1,013 yards and eight touchdowns. He broke that record with 66 receptions the following season, adding 1,142 yards and 12 more touchdowns. He was a two-time All-Big Ten selection and the No. 8 overall player taken in the 2000 NFL Draft.

OT Barrett Jones, Alabama (2008-12)

Jones was an invaluably versatile four-year starter during Bama's dynastic run. He started at guard as a freshman and sophomore before moving to left tackle as a junior, winning the Outland Trophy in the process. He made one final move as a senior, taking over at center (and winning the Rimington for his trouble). He started at three different positions on three different title-winning teams and was only the second player in history to win both the Outland and Rimington trophies (after Minnesota's Greg Eslinger). He's the only player to do so in different seasons.

OT Andre Smith, Alabama (2006-08)

Smith in 2006 became only the fourth true freshman in Alabama history to start on the offensive line, and with good reason: He was nearly unstoppable at left tackle. Anytime the offense needed sure yardage, it ran behind Smith. The two-time All-SEC selection earned unanimous All-American honors and the Outland Trophy in 2008, helping him be selected No. 6 overall in the 2009 NFL Draft.

C Ryan Kelly, Alabama (2012-15)

Kelly was a three-year starter at Alabama after backing up Barrett Jones on the Tide’s 2012 national title team (a year in which he was named SEC All-Freshman). Kelly ended his college career in 2015 with another national title, the Rimington and Jacobs Blocking trophies and first-team All-SEC and unanimous All-American honors. He anchored a line that paved the way for Derrick Henry to win the Heisman and earned the 18th pick in the 2016 NFL Draft in the process.

G Stephen Peterman, LSU (2000-03)

Peterman started 29 of his 48 games at LSU, allowing only one sack in each of his last three seasons as a starter. It all culminated with the 2003 season, when Peterman helped Saban and the Tigers win a national title while earning All-American honors. Not bad for a guy who signed with LSU as a tight end.

G Chance Warmack, Alabama (2009-12)

Warmack was a three-year starter at Alabama, including the Tide's 2011 and '12 championship seasons. Best known for his run-blocking skills, Warmack earned All-SEC honors twice and was a unanimous All-American as a senior. He was considered one of the best interior linemen in the 2013 NFL Draft and became only the second guard since 1997 to be drafted in the top 10 when he was taken 10th overall.

DL Jonathan Allen, Alabama (2013-16)

Allen racked up 28 sacks at Alabama, including at least five a season since he was a sophomore. He was a monster during Alabama’s 2015 national title run, earning 14.5 tackles for loss and 12 sacks. His 2016 season was better: He recorded 16 TFL, 10.5 sacks and two fumble return touchdowns; he won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Chuck Bednarik Award and Ted Hendricks Award on top of unanimous All-American honors that season as well. He ranks second in school history for sacks, behind only Hall of Famer Derrick Thomas.

DL Marcus Spears, LSU (2001-04)

Spears left LSU with 19 sacks and 34.5 tackles for a loss, turning in his best performances as a junior and senior. A year after winning the national title for LSU in 2003, he led a top-five LSU defense with 17 tackles for loss and nine sacks, earning him consensus All-American honors. For his career, he put up 49 total tackles and returned an interception for a touchdown. He was taken No. 20 overall in the 2005 NFL Draft.

DL Marcell Dareus, Alabama (2008-10)

Dareus didn’t have a ton of stats at Alabama, but was a disruptive force on the defensive line for three years. He tallied 71 tackles — 20 for a loss — 11 sacks and one interception returned for a touchdown in the 2010 BCS championship game. He was a first-team All-SEC selection in 2008 and was taken No. 3 overall by Buffalo in the 2011 NFL Draft.

LB Julian Peterson, Michigan State (1998-99)

Peterson only played two seasons as a Spartan, but his stat line wouldn’t suggest it: He racked up 140 tackles, 48 tackles for loss (a school record) 25 sacks (second-most all-time at MSU) 10 forced fumbles (tied for school record) and an interception returned for a touchdown. He was an All-American selection his senior year and was drafted 16th overall in the 2000 draft.

LB Bradie James, LSU (1999-2002)

James made his career at LSU being a team player. In four years, he finished with 418 tackles (becoming only the second player in school history to finish with more than 400), 33 tackles for a loss, 14 sacks, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and two interceptions. He was twice an All-SEC selection and earned All-American honors as a senior, when he recorded 154 tackles (an LSU single-season record).

LB Rolando McClain, Alabama (2007-09)

McClain served as an extension of Saban on the field during the Tide’s 2009 championship march, directing the defense and piling up 105 tackles (14.5 for a loss), four sacks, two interceptions and a forced fumble. His efforts won him the Jack Lambert Trophy, Butkus Award and SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors. He accumulated 275 tackles, eight sacks and five interceptions over his career, earning unanimous All-American honors in 2009 and the No. 8 overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.

LB C.J. Mosley, Alabama (2010-13)

Mosley made his name early at Alabama, returning two interceptions for touchdowns while adding 67 tackles as a freshman. His playmaking ability didn’t stop there: As a junior, he added two more interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), four sacks and 107 tackles. As a senior, he became Saban's second Butkus Award winner after leading the Crimson Tide with 108 tackles. Mosley was a two-time consensus All-American and the 17th pick in the 2014 draft.

CB Corey Webster, LSU (2001-04)

The wide receiver-turned-cornerback had a stellar career at LSU. After moving to the secondary as a sophomore, Webster picked off seven passes, returning one for a score. He followed his sophomore performance with seven interceptions in LSU’s 2003 national title season and added two more as a senior. He left LSU a two-time All-American and the school's record holder in passes defended (49).

CB Dee Milliner, Alabama (2010-12)

Even among Saban's defensive backs, Milliner stands out as a lockdown corner. He only had six interceptions in three years, but defended 42 passes and broke up 36 over his career — including 22 and 20 in 2012, respectively. He was a Nagurski Trophy and Jim Thorpe Award finalist that season en route to earning unanimous first-team All-American honors. He was taken ninth overall in the 2013 draft.

S Mark Barron, Alabama (2008-11)

Barron, a run-stopping specialist, was known for his hard-hitting tackles and good pass coverage: He totaled 12 interceptions, 34 defended passes, 22 pass breakups and 237 tackles in four seasons. He also headlined Alabama's 2011 defense, considered among the best in college football history. He was a first-team All-American in 2010 and a unanimous selection in 2011. He was drafted seventh overall in the 2012 draft.

S Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alabama (2015-2017)

Minkah Fitzpatrick excelled from Day 1 at multiple positions in the Tide’s secondary, earning consensus and unanimous All-American honors in 2016 and ‘17, respectively. He owns school records for longest interception returned for a touchdown (100 yards), most career interceptions returned for touchdowns (four) and tied the school record for most interceptions in a game (three). He earned both the Chuck Bednarik and Jim Thorpe awards in 2017, joining Charles Woodson and Patrick Peterson as the only players to win both in the same season. He had 171 tackles, five sacks and nine interceptions in three seasons.

K Leigh Tiffin, Alabama (2006-09)

The definition of clutch, Tiffin holds school records for points scored (385), most points in a season by a kicker (132), most career field goals (83) and most field goals in a season (30). In all, he was 83 of 111 on field goals (74.8 percent, good for second all-time at Bama) and 136 of 142 on extra point attempts (95.8 percent). Tiffin was a Lou Groza Award finalist and AP All-American in 2009, a season in which he completed 30 of 35 field goals.

P JK Scott, Alabama (2014-2017)

Scott secured his place as the best punter ever under Saban in 2017. A one-time Ray Guy finalist in 2014, Scott boomed 243 punts for 11,074 yards over his four-year career, averaging 45.6 yards per punt. He was also a whizz at flipping the field, downing 117 punts (48 percent) inside the 20-yard line. That trend continued in his final year when he downed 29 of 54 punts (54 percent) inside opponents' 20, and 18 (33 percent) inside the 10.

KR Derrick Mason, Michigan State (1993-96)

Mason turned in a productive career at Michigan State, returning 106 kicks for 2,575 yards (both school records). He returned three for touchdowns (second-most all-time at MSU) and averaged 24.3 yards per return. He ranks third all-time at Michigan State with 5,114 all-purpose yards.

PR Javier Arenas, Alabama (2006-09)

Arenas was pure excitement as a punt returner, threatening a touchdown every time he touched the ball. He owns the SEC record with seven punts returned for touchdowns, and his 1,752 punt return yards are second-most all-time, just 9 yards behind record-holder Wes Welker of Texas Tech. Arenas was a consensus All-American and SEC Special Teams Player of the Year on Alabama’s 2009 national title team.

Next Up:Ranking the best college football teams to never win it all, from BCS to CFP